COTR Magazine June 2013 | Page 19

Bythewords " thewholemessage ," PopeJohnPaulIwasreferringtotheconnec- �onbetweenthe " EasterMysteryoftheRedemp�on "— inotherwords , thesuffering , death , burial , resurrec�on , andascensionofChrist , folowedbythesendingoftheHoly Spirit — andthisFeastofDivineMercy , theOctaveDayofEaster , whichfulfilsthegrace ofatonementaslivedthroughbyChristJesusandofferedtoalwhocometoHim with trust

Ċlearly , DivineMercySundayisnotanew feastestablishedtocelebrateSt . Faus- �na ' srevela�ons . Indeed , itisnotprimarilyaboutSt . Faus�naatal — norisitaltogetheranew feast ! Asmanycommentatorshavepointedout , TheSecondSundayof EasterwasalreadyasolemnityastheOctaveDayofEaster ; nevertheless , the�tle " DivineMercySunday " doeshighlightandamplifythemeaningoftheday . Inthisway , it recoversanancientliturgicaltradi�on , reflectedinateachinga�ributedtoSt . Augus- �neabouttheEasterOctave , whichhecaled " thedaysofmercyandpardon ," andthe OctaveDayitself " thecompendium ofthedaysofmercy ."

HourofMercy ~

InHisrevela�onstoSt . Faus�na , OurLordaskedforaspecialprayerandmedita�on onHisPassioneacha�ernoonatthethreeo ’ clockhour , thehourthatrecalsHisdeath onthecross .

Atthreeo ’ clock , imploreMymercy , especialyforsinners ; and , ifonlyforabrief moment , immerseyourselfinMyPassion , par�cularlyinMyabandonmentatthe momentofagony . Thisisthehourofgreatmercy . Inthishour , Iwilrefusenothingto thesoulthatmakesarequestofMeinvirtueofMyPassion ( Diary , 1320 ).

Aso�enasyouheartheclockstrikethethirdhour , immerseyourselfcompletelyin Mymercy , adoringandglorifyingit ; invokeitsomnipotenceforthewholeworld , and par�cularlyforpoorsinners ; foratthatmomentmercywasopenedwideforeverysoul . Inthishouryoucanobtaineverythingforyourselfandforothersfortheasking ; itwas thehourofgraceforthewholeworld — mercytriumphedoverjus�ce .( 1572 )

Mydaughter , tryyourbesttomaketheSta�onsoftheCrossinthishour , provided thatyourdu�espermitit ; andifyouarenotabletomaketheSta�onsoftheCross , thenatleaststepintothechapelforamomentandadore , intheMostBlessedSacrament , MyHeart , whichisfulofmercy ; andshouldyoubeunabletostepintothe chapel , immerseyourselfinprayertherewhereyouhappentobe , ifonlyforavery briefinstant .( 1572 )

From thesedetailedinstruc�ons , it ’ sclearthatOurLordwantsustoturnoura�en�on toHisPassionatthethreeo ’ clockhourtowhateverdegreeourdu�esalow , andHe wantsustoaskforHismercy .

InGenesis18:16-32 , Abraham beggedGodtoreducethecondi�onsnecessaryfor Him tobemercifultothepeopleofSodom andGomorrah .

~ 18 ~